Numerous celebrities have quickly paid tribute to US President Joe Biden following his announcement that he will not be running in the upcoming presidential election. Hollywood, a long-time supporter and financier of the Democratic Party, had seen some donors turning away from Biden after his poor performance in a TV debate with rival Donald Trump.
Following the announcement, several stars publicly declared their support for Vice President Kamala Harris in her bid for the Democratic nomination.
Talk show host and comedian Jon Stewart called Biden a “legend,” while actor Robert De Niro described his decision as an “act of shrewd politics and selfless patriotism.” De Niro emphasized the importance of defeating Donald Trump at the ballot box, calling it crucial for the country.
Oscar-winning actress and singer Barbra Streisand praised Biden, predicting he would “go down in history as a man who accomplished significant achievements in his four-year term” in a post on X. Star Wars actor Mark Hamill credited Biden with restoring “honesty, dignity & integrity” to the office after Trump’s presidency, which he described as filled with “lies, crime, scandal & chaos.”
Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns echoed these sentiments, praising Biden for leading the country out of a disastrous term under his predecessor while quietly doing good things for all Americans. Singer John Legend expressed gratitude for Biden’s grace and patriotism in stepping aside and endorsed Harris, stating he was excited to support her campaign.
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis highlighted Harris’s “trusted and tested” record and her advocacy for women’s rights and people of color, praising her message of hope and unity. If Harris wins the November election, she would become the first woman and woman of color to serve as President of the United States.
Comedian Kathy Griffin enthusiastically posted “Let’s make history!!!” on X, while singer Katy Perry shared a video on Instagram singing, “It’s a woman’s world, and you’re lucky to be living in it,” referencing her latest single.
Star Trek actor George Takei framed the potential election match-up as “prosecutor vs felon,” referring to Harris’s career as a prosecutor and Trump’s conviction on charges of falsifying business records. Singer Charli XCX also showed her support, posting on X: “kamala IS brat,” referencing her latest album ‘Brat,’ which has become a social media trend among Harris’s supporters.
The official X page of Harris’s campaign, Kamala HQ, has embraced the trend, changing its cover photo to match the style of the Brat album cover.
While Hollywood has been a significant source of financial support for the Democrats, some prominent figures had withdrawn their support for Biden in recent weeks, calling for his replacement.
One notable figure was Aaron Sorkin, creator of the US political drama The West Wing, who wrote an opinion piece in The New York Times urging Democrats to nominate Mitt Romney, a well-known Republican senator and former Republican presidential candidate. Sorkin has since retracted his statement, posting, “I take it all back. Harris for America!” on West Wing actor Joshua Malina’s X account.
Actor George Clooney also expressed his “love” for Biden in a New York Times opinion piece but cited Biden’s age and campaign trail gaffes as reasons the Democrats might not win in November with him as the candidate. Clooney has not yet commented on Biden’s decision to step aside.
